Tourist SIMs at a glance
- Carriers and shopsTourist SIMs are available from China Mobile, China Unicom, and China Telecom. You can get them through airport counters and carrier stores.
- RegistrationA local SIM must be registered with your passport.
- Good to know
- According to Beijing's official guide, a valid passport lets you apply for up to five SIM cards, each with its own number.
- You can apply online and collect the card at the Beijing Service airport counter, China Mobile at Beijing Capital and China Unicom at Beijing Daxing.
- The guide advises choosing a service hall run directly by the operator and calling ahead to ask whether it accepts foreign applicants.
China SIM card or eSIM: side by side
| eSIM | Local SIM | |
|---|---|---|
| Where you get it | In the app, before you fly | airport counters and carrier stores |
| Ready when you land | Yes, if installed before the flight | After you have bought and set it up |
| Phone number | Data only, no number | Depends on the pack, see the carrier page |
| Plans and prices | Shown live below, by data size and days | On the carrier or airport page |
Local SIM details change. Confirm them with the carrier or the airport.
Set it up before you fly
- Check that your phone supports eSIM and is not locked: eSIM compatible phones.
- Pick a plan for your destination below.
- Payment is taken once the eSIM is ready.
- Install it at home over Wi-Fi: tap Install in the app or scan the QR code.
- After landing, switch on data roaming for the eSIM line.
- Most plans start when your phone first connects there.
Prefer a daily allowance? 1 GB per day · 7 days for €7.49: full speed up to 1 GB a day, then 384 Kbps until the next day.
Picked like in our shop: the cheapest plan with about 0.7 GB a day. Live prices for China.
Questions and answers
China: can tourists buy a local SIM card?
Yes. Visitors can buy a local SIM from China Mobile, China Unicom, and China Telecom. An eSIM set up at home is the alternative if you want data the moment you land.
China: do I need my passport for a local SIM?
Yes, bring your passport. The SIM is registered in your name when you buy it.
China: tourist SIM or eSIM, which is better?
A tourist SIM suits you if you want a local plan or number. An eSIM suits you if you want data the moment you land, without a counter visit.
China: how much data does a week need?
About 5 GB suit a typical week of maps, messages and rides. How much data do I need helps you pick a size.
Does the eSIM come with a phone number?
No. Plans are data only. Keep your own SIM for calls and texts, and use messaging apps over data.
Updated 29 Oct 2026 · checked against our live catalogue
How we check our data · Prices and plans come live from our catalogue; facts come from official sources, listed where we use them.
Sources: Beijing government: a guide for purchasing SIM cards · Beijing Service: PEK SIM card application and collection
